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Why has Zurich’s coronavirus vaccination plan been delayed?

Switzerland’s most populous canton is lagging behind the majority of the country when it comes to vaccinations.

Published: 2 February 2021 17:27 CET
Why has Zurich's coronavirus vaccination plan been delayed?
Photo: Arne Dedert / POOL / AFP

With a population of 1.5 million people, almost one in five people who live in Switzerland live in the canton of Zurich. 

But despite a relatively centralised population and some of the best access to resources in one of the world’s wealthiest countries, Zurich is lagging behind when it comes to vaccinating its population. 

What is the situation in Zurich? 

As at February 2nd, 2021, Zurich is vaccinating slower than 21 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons on a per capita basis. 

Zurich has vaccinated just 2.99 percent of its residents, which is slower than the Swiss average of 3.64. 

Only Bern, Neuchâtel, Aargau and Fribourg are vaccinating slower. 

UPDATED: Which Swiss cantons are vaccinating fastest against coronavirus? 

Is this a flaw of Zurich’s vaccine rollout – and how will things run in the future? 

What is Zurich’s vaccination strategy?

Cantonal authorities told Watson that the vaccination planning is a “logistical challenge with many unknown variables”. 

Zurich started vaccinations on January 4th – more than a week after the first vaccinations started on December 23rd 

Zurich started vaccinations at the Institute for Travel Medicine on Hirschengraben, which can carry out 600 vaccinations per day. 

According to the canton’s vaccination strategy, which was released in December, after risk groups are prioritised, health workers will get the jab in February. 

READ MORE: How can I get vaccinated for Covid-19 in Switzerland? 

Members of the general public were to be vaccinated from March at large vaccination centres across the canton, however the NZZ reported in January that this is now likely to start in April. 

When these centres hit full stride, an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 people will be vaccinated across the cantons. 

Why has the vaccine rollout been delayed? 

According to the NZZ, Zurich’s vaccination plan may have been too ambitious. 

Zurich wanted to set up six large vaccination centres, however cantonal authorities are still on the lookout for operators. 

Medical entities in Zurich have been reluctant to participate, citing low remuneration and a lack of staff. 

“We will not apply to operate a vaccination centre,” said Urs Müller, the CEO of Bülach Hospital. 

The centres require approximately 100 people daily, which Müller said the hospital does not have. 

“If we had so many staff available in the hospital that we could simply assign for other tasks, then we would not run our business very efficiently.”

Operators are paid CHF50 per vaccination, which Müller says is too low for operators to recoup their costs. 

“We already have enough to struggle with the financial damage caused by the pandemic,” Müller said. 

‘Accelerated with more vaccine’

Cantonal authorities have blamed hold ups in vaccine procurement for the delays rather than organisational hurdles, saying “timetable in the canton of Zurich could only be accelerated with more vaccine.”

By the second last week of January, approximately 24,989 vaccinations were carried out in Zurich. 

Delays in delivery however will continue to be felt into February, with 90,000 instead of the promised 113,000 Biontech/Pfizer doses delivered before the end of February. 

People can register to be vaccinated in Zurich at the following link. 

 

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FOOD AND DRINK

EXPLAINED: What does the ‘bio’ label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

All major Swiss supermarkets have products designated as ‘bio’, which refers to their ‘organic’ farming or manufacturing methods. But what exactly does this label represent?

Published: 24 June 2024 11:31 CEST
EXPLAINED: What does the 'bio' label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

In its press release published in June 2024, Bio Suisse, an umbrella group for organic food producers, said that residents of Switzerland are international ‘bio’ champions. 

“With consumption of 454 francs per capita, Switzerland ranks first in international comparison,” the organisation said. “In no other European country is the organic basket of goods as large.”

In terms of preference for organic food, “Switzerland is ahead of Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. Germany follows in sixth place and France just behind in seventh place,” Bio-Suisse added.

This finding is not surprising because the consumption of this more expensive type of food is directly linked to income: the wealthier the country, the more its residents are willing to spend on organic products.

What does a ‘bio’ label stand for in Switzerland?

In a nutshell, organic products must meet much higher standards and comply with more requirements than the ‘conventional’ foods in the way they are grown and manufactured.

Contrary to most conventional production methods, organic farming is more sustainable — that is, it protects the environment and conserves resources instead of depleting them.

A total of 7,362 organic farmers and producers are members of Bio Suisse.

In addition, more than 2,300 operations abroad are also certified according to the Bio Suisse standards, which means their farming / production methods are equivalent to those practiced in Switzerland.

Can you trust a ‘bio’ label, or is it just a lot of hype (as some people claim?)

In Switzerland, this process is strictly controlled by various organic farming ordinances, which are enforced by the Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW). 

This means that every farm that produces, prepares, trades or imports organic products is inspected and certified at least once a year by one of the four accredited and approved certification bodies in Switzerland.

These laws also set out the principles by which agricultural products and foodstuffs labelled as organic must be made, and which non-toxic substances are authorised for use in organic farming and for preparing organic food.

Why are organic products more expensive than conventional ones?

Among the main reasons are more rigorous production and certification standards, which must meet all the requirements set out by the BLW.

Also, operational costs involved in the use of natural, pesticide-free fertilisers and high-quality animal feed, are higher in organic farming than in conventional one.

Additionally, the supply of organic food in Swiss supermarkets is more limited than that of conventional one, which pushes prices up.

And then there is this often-asked question: is organic food in Switzerland in really healthier?

Some people will swear by the better quality and higher nutritional value of organic products, while others will say the benefits are exaggerated.

There is no definite answer to this question, except this: some studies have shown possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using conventional process.

However, there is limited information to prove how these differences can give potential overall health benefits.

But Zurich authorities believe in the ‘power’ of organic foods: in 2022, they mandated that most of the food served in the city’s hospitals, care centres, childcare facilities, and schools, be organic.

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